Excited to welcome the amazing historian, activist, and author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, Mark Bray to Against Everyone! You’ve probably encountered the anti-fascists “antifa” movement in some way or another since the now-iconic video of neo-Nazi organizer Richard Spencer getting punched in the face on camera. Since then, anti-fascists activists have been completely misrepresented in media and misunderstood by the non-activist public, derided by the right (like when DonaldTrumpejaculated theword“Antifa!“ on stage) as well as by liberals. Mark puts the antifa action and organization in the context of history, illuminating how it’s not just a bunch of angry college kids, but a rich and thought-out set of tactics and web of movements throughout history.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why people who are against antifascist action often believe in the Myth of Progress: 1:50

Why the impossibility of utopia can combat the fantasy of progress: 6:45

How to implement one the ground activism while retaining the vision. And why: 12:10

The people who whine “THAT’S NOT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING”: 13:35

Is the general engagement with a state traumatic?: 17:00

Netflix and chill? Nah, Hitler or chill, bro.: 19:40

Recognizing all violences without dismissing differences between them: 21:00

The problem with “talk it out with the enemy” is that most people who say it don’t believe it: 23:20

The racist kids Conner grew up with, the Nazi organizers who exploited them, and what to do with the various levels of racism and fascism: 26:20

The little bird and the forest fire: 31:40

“If I can’t stand by the bar and drink while I watch people dance to it, it’s not my revolution.”: 36:00

Where’s the line between fascism and other oppressive structures of power?: 37:20

Who deserves engagement and who deserves dismissal and derision: Anti-sex worker and anti-porn activists use fascist rhetoric – And why you shouldn’t engage with them: 42:25

Why “no platform” is a worthwhile tactic and why it’s so misunderstood: 49:50

Charlie Hebdo and why free speech matters, but not the “support our troops” version of free speech: 52:30